Draft-equalizer.



P tented Mar. 26 190|. No. 670,459. a

H. sPu'NAuGLe. DRAFT EUUALIZER.,

(Apl'allicatinn nl eq c-8. 1900. zlsneetsnsheet l. (No Model.) 4

www u# l n Y H9711* wia s btozn gym 7 No. 670,459. Patented Mar. 2s,mol. I

H. sPuNAuGLE.

DRAFT EQULI'ZER.

minimi@ my@ nec e. 1900.-

2. Sheets- Sheet 2 l (No Model.)

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Hra/y Span UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

' HENRY SPUNAUGLE, on HAWLEYVILLE, IOWA.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 670,459, dated March 26,1901.

Application filed December 8, 1900. Serial No. 39,206. (No model.)

Iowa, have invented certain nevv and usefulW Improvements inDraft-Equalizers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will en ableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to means for equalizing the draft of animalsdisposed in unequal numbers upon opposite sides of the pole or tongue ofa vehicle, farming implement, or agricultural machine.

rIhe invention consists of a slide, a singletree mounted upon the slideand having` singletrees at its ends, a lever fulcrumed to the slide andadapted to have draft applied thereto, an equalizing-lever in the rearof the slide,

and connections'between the said lever and the slide and thedraft-lever.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention arenecessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated in l the accompanying drawings7 inWhiching to the rear.

Figure l is atop plan view of the invention applied to a pole or tongue.Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line X X of Fig. -1 look- Fig. 3is a central longitudinal section, the pole being in full. Fig4 L1 is aperspective'view of the slide and arch. Fig. 5 is a detail perspectiveview of the adjustable link, the parts being separated and relativelyarranged in the position Which they occupy when assembled.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The pole or tongue 1 may be of any make, according to the style ofvehicle, machine, or implement to which it is to be applied, and isstrengthened by thegliounds 2either of metal -or\Wood,reinforcing-straps being em- .ably-devised means.

ployed and attached to the hounds When the latter are formed of Wood, asillustrated.

The slide 3 is mounted to move longitudinally upon the pole and is heldthereto and directed in its reciprocating mo-vements'by anyvsuit- Asingletree lis mou nted upon A`a verticalpin o r journal 5, appliedcentrally to the slide 3, and is provided at its ends with singletrees6, attached thereto by clevises in the well-known way. A draftlever 7 isfulcrumed at its inner end to the slide 3, so as to move therewith, andby preference it is mounted upon the pin or journal 5. A curve 8 isformed near the outer end of the draft-lever to prevent contact thereofwith the Wheel or other portion of the vehicle, implement, `or machineto which the equalizing device may be applied. A singletree 9 is appliedto the outer end of the draft- VVlever 7 to enable the animal to behitched thereto. An equalizing-lever 10 is located in the rear of theslide and is pivoted centrally to the pole l and its opposite ends areconnected, respectively, to the slide and draftlever. A hammer-strap 11braces the upper end of the bolt upon Which the equalizing-lever ismounted.

The means for holding and directing the slide in its reciprocatingmovements consist of an oblong plate 12,-secured to the pole 1 andspaced therefrom. This plate 12 is slotted for the sake of lightness andeconomy in metal and is spaced from the pole at its rear end by means ofthe hammer-strap 11 and at its front end by a reinforcing-strap 13, madefast to the pole, and at an intermediate point by means of la Washer 14.The slide 3 has its longitudinal edge portions constructed to embracethe longitudinal edges of the plate 12` so as to retain the slide inplace and give proper direction thereto in its longitudinal movements.Arms 15 are provided centrally of the slide 3 and extend in oppositedirections from the front and rear ends thereof, and their terminalportions are bent about at a right angle, as shown at 16, to receive thebent ends 17 of a bar 18, constituting the arch and centrally aperturedto receive the upper portionof the pin or journal 5. The bent ends 16and 1'7 overlap and are connected by bolts 19, passing through openingsin coincident relation therein. l

IOO

One end of the equalizing-lever 10 is connected with the slide b v meansof a short chain 20 and link 21, the end of the link be ing widened andpierced to receive the pin or journal 5. The opposite end of theequalizing-lever is connected with the draft-lever 7 by means of anadjustable link composed of members 22 and 23, the member 22 having aloop 2L]E at one end, through which the member slides, and both membersbeing adjustably connected by means of a fastening 25, adapted to passthrough one of a series of openings 2G in the member 2S and makescrew-thread connection with the loop of the member 22. The end portionsof the equalizingdever lO are formed with a series of openings 27, whichenable adjustable connection therewith of the connections between saidlever and the parts 3 and 7.

The pivotal end of the draft-lever 7 is capable of longitudinal movementwith the slide 3 and a turning` movement. with reference to theconnection between it and the equalizinglever, and as a result thedevice is sensitive and responsive, so as to insure an equalization ofthe load upon the team, which is of material advantage in distributingthe work upon the several draft-animals.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. In adraft-equalizer, a slide mounted for longitudinal movement and bearing asingletree, a draft-lever fulcrumed to the slide and movable therewith,an equalizing-lever, and connections between opposite ends of theequalizing-lever and said slide and draft-lever, substantially as setforth.

2. In a draft-equalizer, a longitudinallymovable slide, a singletree, adraft-lever, a pin or analogous fastening connecting the singletree anddraft-lever with the said slide,

an equaliZing-lever located in the rear of the slide, and connectionsbetween the ends of the equalizingdever and the said slide anddraftlcver, substantially as specified.

In a draft-equalizer, a longitudinallymovable slide having front andrear arms formed with bent ends, a pin or journal secured to lthe slide,an arch centrally pierced for the passage of the said pin and having itsends attached to the bent end of the aforesaid arms, a singletree, adraft -lever mounted upon the pin between the slide and arch, ancqualizinglever, and connections between the ends of theequalizing-lever and the slide and draft-lever, substantially asspecified.

4. In a draft-equalizer, a longitudinal slide, a pin applied to saidslide, a singletree, and a draft-lever mounted upon said pin, anequalizing -lever in connection between one end of the equaliZing-leverand the draftdever, and a second connection between the equalizingleverand the slide and including a l'ink, the latter mounted upon the pin ofthe slide and free to move on the latter, substantially as specilicd.

In combination, a plate secured to the pole and spaced therefrom, aslide having its edge portions constructed to embrace the edge portionsof the said plate, a singletree, a draftlever fulcrumed to said slideand equalizinglever, and connections between the ends ol theeqi'lalizing-lever and the said slide and draft-lever, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

his HENRY SPUNAUGLE. [L s mark Witnesses:

CHARLES E. BLAIR, WILLIAM J. SPUNAUGLE.

